Halibut taken off the coast of California from a sit-on-top kayak

Recreational kayaking has enjoyed a steady growth in popularity for several decades, especially since modern ocean kayak touring caught on and paddlers once again began using these seaworthy boats for the purpose that they were originally developed for. Sea kayaks have great appeal for general coastal exploring and as a means of getting out on the water for minimum expense and hassle. Serious saltwater fishermen also began seeing the advantages of these lightweight, stable and shallow draft personal vessels and the result is the new sport of saltwater kayak fishing that is now enjoyed by thousands of anglers on practically every coast.

If a kayak seems too small to be used as a fishing vessel, consider that these human-powered craft were originally invented by Inuit and Aleutian hunters who used them to make their living from the sea pursuing fish, seals and even walrus and small whales. These indigenous kayaks were built of the only available materials, sealskin stretched over a framework of wood and bits of whalebone. Touring kayaks are patterned after these, with an enclosed cockpit into which the paddler is sealed by means of a sprayskirt to keep the water out. The key to modern kayak fishing, however, is the open-cockpit, sit-on-top model with self-draining scuppers and wide beam for extra stability and for carrying the necessary tackle. On board the open type of kayak, the paddler is less confined and can more easily handle a rod and reel. These molded plastic kayaks are virtually indestructible, inexpensive, and easy to paddle; making them the most user-friendly boats on the market for beginners.

The simplicity of the kayak makes it much easier to get out on the water, compared to trailering a larger boat to the ramp and dealing with an outboard and other associated equipment. You just throw a fishing kayak in the bed of a pickup truck or tie it on the roof racks of a car, and go. It increases the opportunities to fish at times when you might only have an hour or two that would not be worth launching a boat for. Serious fishermen who have started fishing from kayaks say they get out on the water a lot more frequently than they did before. It requires a less is more mentality when it comes to equipment, but more time on the water makes the trade-off worth it. A side benefit is the healthy exercise paddling provides.

A group of Texas kayak anglers recently boarding a charter boat in Biloxi, Mississippi, for a week of fishing at Chandeleur Island, a world-class hotspot for big redfish and speckled trout, summed up the appeal of the fishing kayak. Each fisherman had his own fully-rigged kayak, which would allow independent fishing once they reached the island, which lies 25 miles offshore in the Gulf. The charter boat would serve as a base camp, allowing the kayakers to paddle into shallow cuts in the grass flats around the island to pursue their game in places no other boat could go. One of the kayakers told me he had recently sold his 22-foot center-console Grady White after discovering this simpler and more productive means of fishing. Another of the kayakers said the kayak is “nothing more than a fishing chair that moves.”

The kayaks used by these experienced anglers were optimized for sport fishing, with deck-mounted rod holders, soft-pack coolers, folding anchors, GPS receivers and even deck mounted electronic fish-finders powered by a small, sealed lead acid battery mounted inside the boat. A large assortment of lures could be carried in other deck-mounted tackle bags, and even live bait could be carried in the cooler mounted behind the paddler’s seat.

Not only can kayakers fish the grass flats and twisting salt marsh bayous, they can also negotiate open water chop or even surf with ease. Adventuresome kayakers in Florida and on the West Coast often go after larger gamefish in open water, and some catch big tarpon, sharks, tuna and even billfish that can fight for hours, towing the kayak in every direction until the fish is spent and can be hauled in and secured on the after deck for the trip back to shore. The angler’s proximity to the water in these tiny boats offers an intimacy with nature and a connection between predator and prey seldom found in any other kind of fishing.

Because of all these advantages, kayak fishing is spreading like wildfire and enthusiasts are organizing clubs for the purpose of further development of the sport and refinement of the boats, gear and techniques. Many kayak manufacturers are now offering models designed especially for fishing, and a simple Internet search on the subject will yield a wealth of information on fishing kayaks and kayak fishing clubs. For an excellent book on the subject, don’t miss Ken Daubert’s Kayakfishing : The Revolution, Coelacanth Publishing, 2001, $15.95. But be forewarned that after reading this book and trying a fishing kayak for yourself, you too could be hooked on a whole new way of fishing.

Safety Equipment for Kayak Fishing:

PDF (personal floatation device)

Drinking water and high-energy snack food

Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses

Paddle tether or leash (to prevent loss in the excitement of hooking a big one)

Sharp knife, essential in case of entanglement in fish line, paddle tether, etc

Waterproof flashlight, in case of delayed return to shore or charter boat

Deck-mounted compass

GPS navigation receiver

Hand-held VHF radio or cell phone for emergency communication

Set of emergency flares and Coast Guard-approved emergency whistle

(This article was first published in South Mississippi Outdoors and Recreation, 2004)